Senior Manager/Assistant Director (Psychological Research & Evaluation), SIR/PRE

What the role is

The Strategy, International & Research (SIR) Directorate oversees and drives MSF's strategic planning, transformation, international engagement, as well as research and analytics efforts to achieve MSF's strategic outcomes.

The Psychological Research & Evaluation (PRE) team drives applied psychological and social research, evaluation and advanced analytics to support MSF's policymaking and service delivery. Our work involves leveraging diverse data sources and innovative analytical approaches to deepen understanding of social and family needs, uncover underlying patterns and drivers, and generate actionable insights to inform policies, programmes and interventions.

As a Senior Manager/Assistant Director, you will be involved in designing and conducting rigorous research and advanced data analytics to address complex social and policy questions. You will also contribute to strengthening MSF's research and sensemaking capabilities through the application of advanced statistical methods, machine learning and emerging AI technologies.

What you will be working on

• Design and conduct quantitative research and advanced analytics to address complex social and policy questions, and generate actionable insights for policymaking and service delivery.
• Apply a range of analytical techniques, including longitudinal analysis, predictive modelling, machine learning and causal inference, to understand patterns, relationships, drivers and trajectories of social and family outcomes.
• Leverage AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), to analyse structured and unstructured data, uncover insights and develop innovative analytical solutions.
• Develop and apply analytical approaches to identify emerging social trends, detect evolving needs and anticipate potential risks across different population groups.
• Explore, develop and validate new analytical methodologies, models and tools to strengthen MSF's research, analytics and sensemaking capabilities.
• Synthesise complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for policymakers and operational stakeholders.
• Manage research and analytics projects, including methodological design, model validation, deliverables and timelines, and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external research and technology partners.

What we are looking for

• Background in Psychology, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Social Sciences or related disciplines, with strong training in quantitative research methods, statistics or data analytics with at least 5 to 7 years of relevant experience.
• Strong technical proficiency in programming and statistical analysis, particularly Python and/or R, with demonstrated ability to independently conduct complex analyses.
• Experience in applying advanced analytical techniques such as multivariate statistical modelling, longitudinal analysis, predictive analytics, machine learning or causal inference.
• Experience in applying AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Natural Language Processing (NLP) or other AI/ML techniques, for data analysis, text analytics or research applications.
• Ability to develop, evaluate and validate analytical models and AI-enabled solutions, with a sound understanding of methodological rigour, model performance and limitations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify appropriate analytical approaches and translate complex findings into meaningful policy and operational insights.
• Good communication, stakeholder engagement and project management skills.
• Experience in applied social research, programme evaluation or social policy research would be an advantage.